Biological products break down crop residue, enrich the soil, and improve plant health. By reducing pest pressure, boosting cover crop performance, and lowering the need for synthetic inputs, biologicals help farmers build resilient, productive soils.
In the context of crop residue management, biological products include microbes, humic acids, and enzymes. All three work in unison to decrease stubble mass and increase soil quality.
Microbes are living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes (yes, there are beneficial nematodes!). They digest organic matter and release nutrients into the soil.
Humic acids are organic molecules that improve soil properties and plant growth and increase microbial populations. Humic acids are 60 percent carbon, which is the primary food of microbes.
Enzymes are proteins that create biochemical reactions. Microbes create enzymes. Enzymes help degrade complex molecules such as cellulose, lignin, and starch, all components of crop residues. Because enzymes are microbially specific, scientists measure them to determine which microbial species are in the soil.
1. Reduce Pest and Disease Pressure
Biologicals reduce the risk of pests and diseases that thrive on crop residues, such as corn rootworm, Fusarium, white mold, and tobacco mosaic. Synthetics reduce these pests and diseases, but they also reduce beneficial microorganisms.
The greater the biodiversity in your soil, the less available real estate there is for pathogens. Rhizobacteria, found in the plant root zone, aid legumes in fixing nitrogen. Protists, such as protozoa, keep bacterial populations under control.
2. Enhance Cover Crop Performance
Biological products enhance the performance of cover crops, which add benefits such as erosion control, weed suppression, and nitrogen fixation. Nature does a lot of the work for you if you stand back and wait. Yes, your field will be messy. But, when winter snowstorms and wind come onto the High Plains and the Midwest, your fields will hold the snow. Whiteout conditions and drifts occur when there isn’t any vegetation as soil cover to hold the snow.
3. Improve Seed Germination and Emergence
In the spring when you’re ready to plant, those shaggy cover crops will be broken down and ready to plant into. Soil management that allows microbial activity enhances nutrient cycling and increases soil organic matter, trace minerals, and soil biodiversity.
Biologicals enhance seed germination and emergence by creating a hospitable seedbed and reducing the amount of physical biomass the new seedling has to push through.
4. Reduce Need for Synthetic Inputs
Finally, biological products lower the need for synthetic inputs and decrease the dependency of soil on fertilizers and pesticides. This saves you money throughout the year as Mother Nature does the hard work for you.
The ST Biologicals mentors can help you implement biological products at your operation. Get in touch with us today. We have decades of experience helping farmers and ranchers work with Mother Nature to improve yields and maintain soil health and productivity for future generations. We’re here to help you succeed. When soil speaks, we listen.
Crop Residue Management FAQs
Are biological products used in crop residue management?
Biologicals decompose stubble, release nutrients, and improve soil quality. They are an important part of your crop residue management plan.
How do biologicals reduce pest and disease pressure?
By increasing soil biodiversity, biologicals make it harder for pathogens to thrive, while beneficial organisms like rhizobacteria and protozoa help balance soil ecosystems.
Can biologicals improve cover crop and seed performance?
Yes. They enhance cover crop benefits like erosion control and nitrogen fixation while also creating healthier seedbeds for better germination and emergence in spring.
Do biologicals reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides?
Absolutely. Biologicals cycle nutrients naturally and suppress pests, cutting input costs and helping soil become more self-sustaining over time.
